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New Grado's

I'm on my set 3rd set of Grados (SR-225e)... they are excellent - I was introduced to them during the headphone.com "road show" several years back.

Listened to cans up to thousands of dollars and picked the best set I could afford back then (SR-125s).

Stacker45 is right - BIG bang per buck ratio in the entire line... I suggest skipping every other pair when going up the line (60, 125, 325, etc.) - I got the 225e because the 325e were a bit out of my price range plus I got a killer deal on them.

The RS-2s were my top favorites (high bang per buck and best comfort).

Happy Listening!
 
DeeCee said:
I'm on my set 3rd set of Grados (SR-225e)... they are excellent - I was introduced to them during the headphone.com "road show" several years back.

Listened to cans up to thousands of dollars and picked the best set I could afford back then (SR-125s).

Stacker45 is right - BIG bang per buck ratio in the entire line... I suggest skipping every other pair when going up the line (60, 125, 325, etc.) - I got the 225e because the 325e were a bit out of my price range plus I got a killer deal on them.

The RS-2s were my top favorites (high bang per buck and best comfort).

Happy Listening!
Click to expand...

I have the SR80's AND the RSII's. The SR80's are the best phones I've ever heard for $99 bucks, period. Great extension, especially for warmish, laid-back headphones. That said, the RSII's are in an entirely-different class altogether. Took a while, but I finally got used to the different earpads as well as the clearer sound (Clearer bass always sounds lighter at first, and the RSII's are MUCH clearer in all respects). Both are excellent without an amp. Mine sound great just plugging straight into my laptop or Dell DJ portable.

Do the quarter mod, but make the hole much bigger. Keep trimming around the edge of the hole, exposing as much of the driver as you can while still leaving enough earpad to support your ears. The improvement in clarity alone will be quite-noticeable. Or you could use the RSI/RSII pads instead, although I would start with the center-hole mod first and then go from there.
 
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I have a pair of SR60's that I bought 15 years ago. I have the L cushions and have performed most of the free mods and tweaks out there. Great headphones - still holding up fine after all this time.
 
I have a pair of SR60's I bought about 10 years ago. Really good! I like them best with a very minor EQ. A small boost around 100Hz and attenuation around the 5kHz area. That seems to make them a bit smoother and takes the edge off. I mean very minor EQ otherwise the famous midrange signature will get mucked up. I also like them for low volume listening.
 
An L-pad is basically like a potentiometer that attenuates the signal going to a speaker without changing the impedance. Back in the days of simple mono radios in cars L-pads were commonly used to control the volume of a speaker mounted on the rear deck of a car. Also good for adjusting volume of speaker(s) wired to a two channel home stereo with rear speaker(s) wired using the Hafler circuit. I hope this helps:music:
 
Bugler said:
An L-pad is basically like a potentiometer that attenuates the signal going to a speaker without changing the impedance. Back in the days of simple mono radios in cars L-pads were commonly used to control the volume of a speaker mounted on the rear deck of a car. Also good for adjusting volume of speaker(s) wired to a two channel home stereo with rear speaker(s) wired using the Hafler circuit. I hope this helps:music:
Click to expand...

I think the OP was referring to these... L-Cush earpads, which are used on models like the SR325, RSII, and RSI.
350x263px-LL-9ebc0006_LCush.jpeg


images

On the flipside, I've used the SR80 earpads in place (S-Cush?) of the stock L-Cush pads on my RSII's in the past. You lose some depth, but you get a kick in the bass. Good for those with fitting issues using the L-Cush pads on their smallish ears and better than the L-Cush when you've got noise-floor issues, mainly because they rest flat against your ears and create a better seal against your head.

You guys should try the SR80's plugged into a Fisher 500C or 800C. My RSII's sound AMAZING running off my 800C. Super-smooth, super-clear, and LOTS of depth. They sound awesome plugged into my laptop and portables, but it's a whole new ballgame when you give them some quality power, and they really seem well-suited to the Fisher. BIG improvement in the bass. Huge. You want those low lows you guys were talking about? Try them on a Fisher tuber. And in no way whatsoever is it detached from the mids and highs. Solid and cohesive, with lots of low-end depth.
 
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I'd love to hear that combo. Just missed a 500c here locally - would have loved to own that unit.


Gang-Twanger said:
I think the OP was referring to these... L-Cush earpads, which are used on models like the SR325, RSII, and RSI.
GradoLCush.jpg


images

On the flipside, I've used the SR80 earpads in place (S-Cush?) of the stock L-Cush pads on my RSII's in the past. You lose some depth, but you get a kick in the bass. Good for those with fitting issues using the L-Cush pads on their smallish ears and better than the L-Cush when you've got noise-floor issues, mainly because they rest flat against your ears and create a better seal against your head.

You guys should try the SR80's plugged into a Fisher 500C or 800C. My RSII's sound AMAZING running off my 800C. Super-smooth, super-clear, and LOTS of depth. They sound awesome plugged into my laptop and portables, but it's a whole new ballgame when you give them some quality power, and they really seem well-suited to the Fisher. BIG improvement in the bass. Huge. You want those low lows you guys were talking about? Try them on a Fisher tuber. And in no way whatsoever is it detached from the mids and highs. Solid and cohesive, with lots of low-end depth.
Click to expand...
 
tiga said:
I'd love to hear that combo. Just missed a 500c here locally - would have loved to own that unit.
Click to expand...

Yup, that Fisher *00C series is a win/win. I get the perfect power for my W90's, plus I get to do my modern thing with the RSII's. And considering the money I have into that thing, it BETTER be versatile.
 
mortarman said:
I've been looking at Grados myself. Do they make any models that are over the ear?
Click to expand...

Only the TOTL ones, but you can add the large bowl pads to any Grado...

Will they change the sound?

Sure.

Will it be better or wose?

Sure, depending on your POV

.
 
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